Halcyon days, I was a schoolboy, a happier more caring society until some people thought more about their personal wealth than the people of our Country. Debt, globalisation, immigration. No wonder we don't teach our real history in school anymore. As to the video...... brilliant, I wish it could be cleaned up a bit. Liked and subscribed.
A gang of us little boys 6-9 years old used to cycle 5 miles from Rubery to Blackwell and sit on the big embankment(on the UP side) just before the top of the bank in the late 50s. This film brought back many memories of watching the guards pinning down the brakes on the down goods. We'd be there all day with only a few sandwiches and our ex-Army water bottles. Seems like another age, which I suppose it was. We were much more 'savvy' than little kids, that age today. We had a freedom youngsters today, couldn't imagine. Lovely vid. thank you.
Seeing him wrestle with the brakes using a wooden club while the train is moving, seems to me as a rather risky job where one could easily get injured.
I was born in this year, But Steam locos, and all that it entails, is for me, the greatest transport system this Country has ever produced, and It was born here all those years ago,
I am nine years old and live 5 miles away when this was taken. I enjoyed many many times watching the antics on the Lickey Incline. A trainspotters dream.
Fantastic footage. Brought back many memories of trainspotting at Bromsgrove, Vigo & Blackwell in the 1960s. Amongst those memories, my Dad took me to Vigo one night when we saw a freight train slip to a halt just before the top in deteriorating weather (started to rain). Despite several efforts, the train couldn't get going again. My Dad must have thought 'this is interesting' so he drove & parked car in Blackwell Rd. when we climbed the steep bank up to banking engine (9F) to see what was going to happen. Several Pannier bankers were summoned from Bromsgrove for extra 'push' to no avail. Eventually the extra 'pull' from a steam loco. on a down freight train did the trick! It was great standing on the bank talking (more my Dad - I was only a wee lad!) to footplate men on 9F towering above us as the firebox glow lit the by now dusk sky around us. Mum wasn't best pleased when we got back home to Lickey End (no mobile phones in those days!) very late! Well, 'boys' will be 'boys' or should that be 'train buffs'.....!
Fantastic video thanks, haylecon days gone by the health and safety brigade would have a heart attack these days watching the brakesmen working the brakes as the train is on the move, certainly a good video of a time gone by now and a part of our heritage, from the locomotive staff, the brakesmen and the signallers too
I'm a Diesel fan, havnt a clue about Steam. But I enjoyed every minute of this, probably because my dad was a Fireman back then, LMS man,, he would have been banked up there many a time. He would have loved to watch this. The sound would have been awesome. Thankful for what we have, a great insight, to how things were done back then, and now (rarely). Even a Diesel needs a hand, Thank you for sharing. 👍😎
My uncle Ted Mason worked in Bromsgrove South Box at the time this was filmed.He,his wife and my two cousins lived in one of the 4 railway cottages at Stoke Works Junction,in the V formed by the junction.I stayed with them a couple of years previously when there was a station at the junction.The very long gardens are still there today 70years later.
Hats off to Dr Rook for this video. In those days it was dead easy to get track permits something Network Rail would do their fruit at today. To be fair trains are faster than then but it's great to see the vibrant thriving railway as it was
thank you, really enjoyed watching the skill of the whole team. I suppose having gained so much experience, the skill becomes second nature. thank you, Patrick m Northamptonshire
I lived opposite Coften park in 60s and travelled by bus to school in Bromsgrove via Barnt Green and Blackwell.. Only cycled a couple of times to Blackwell but it was interesting to see wagon brakes pinned and then sparking when going downhill. Even then I thought who would like living in the white house at the top . Probably railway workers living there but would have to shout to each other. Imagine the noise of the steam locomotives right at the top of the incline.
my next door neighbour was a steam engine driver he is 96 now. And tells me story's about getting stuck on the Queensbury line in Bradford in dead of winter. Like he says we had plenty of tea and bacon eggs and it was warm lol
Filmed the year before I was born. Up to the end of steam, the Lickey, for my late dad, was the highlight of our annual trip back to Leeds from Weston-Super-Mare on the Devonian. I have vague memories as a small child of waiting in the train for the bankers to get in position.
It mentions Rutherford and Scaife; on the new estate next to the station both men are remembered not only by the memorials but also they now each have a road named in their honour. I was workinga lot at one time between Bromsgrove and Blackwell, the signal box is still there, and the point where the incline levels out is now next to a public foot path.
There always was a path on the UP side at the top of the bank, past the front of the cottages. It then went up a steep slope, up the embankment towards the back of the Sanitorium.
My grandad worked on the bankers George dyer as kids we played down on Newton bridge adjacent to sideings if we were lucky got a ride up the in cline You smelt of smoke good days
Hold on, is that (around 12:00) a 4-4-0 and 2-6-0/4-6-0 passengertrain double headed and still banked by a BR standerd 9F? That seems a bit out of carachter by BR?
Big Bertha/ Big Emma was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
Big Bertha was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
0:38 - not the longest gradient, nor the steepest gradient on BR though. Longest - possibly the 30 miles from Langwathby to Aisgill summit on the Settle-Carlisle. Steepest definitely the 1 in 14 Hopton incline on the Cropton and High Peak Railway
Big Bertha was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
@@nielsleenknegt5839 It was actually displayed at the Derby works open day on August 1956 and not cut up into 100s of pieces of small scrap till 6th and 7th April 1957. Then afterwards it was sent for melting down, all except the cylinder block which was saved.
It's Definatly after may 1956, Big Emma isn't seen in any of the shots and it would be VERRY coincidental if the BIG banker was in the works getting repairs when this was shot...
Halcyon days, I was a schoolboy, a happier more caring society until some people thought more about their personal wealth than the people of our Country. Debt, globalisation, immigration. No wonder we don't teach our real history in school anymore. As to the video...... brilliant, I wish it could be cleaned up a bit. Liked and subscribed.
A gang of us little boys 6-9 years old used to cycle 5 miles from Rubery to Blackwell and sit on the big embankment(on the UP side) just before the top of the bank in the late 50s. This film brought back many memories of watching the guards pinning down the brakes on the down goods. We'd be there all day with only a few sandwiches and our ex-Army water bottles. Seems like another age, which I suppose it was. We were much more 'savvy' than little kids, that age today. We had a freedom youngsters today, couldn't imagine. Lovely vid. thank you.
I was born later and just saw the tail end of steam on the national network but understand the kind of freedom you speak of.
Seeing him wrestle with the brakes using a wooden club while the train is moving, seems to me as a rather risky job where one could easily get injured.
I did my viewing from Pikes Pool around the same time. 1960 or 1
I was born in this year, But Steam locos, and all that it entails, is for me, the greatest transport system this Country has ever produced, and It was born here all those years ago,
I am nine years old and live 5 miles away when this was taken. I enjoyed many many times watching the antics on the Lickey Incline. A trainspotters dream.
And no embarrassment in owning up to being a trainspotter in those days.
@@RichardASK True. Every boy at least would have been one
Fantastic footage. Brought back many memories of trainspotting at Bromsgrove, Vigo & Blackwell in the 1960s. Amongst those memories, my Dad took me to Vigo one night when we saw a freight train slip to a halt just before the top in deteriorating weather (started to rain). Despite several efforts, the train couldn't get going again. My Dad must have thought 'this is interesting' so he drove & parked car in Blackwell Rd. when we climbed the steep bank up to banking engine (9F) to see what was going to happen. Several Pannier bankers were summoned from Bromsgrove for extra 'push' to no avail. Eventually the extra 'pull' from a steam loco. on a down freight train did the trick! It was great standing on the bank talking (more my Dad - I was only a wee lad!) to footplate men on 9F towering above us as the firebox glow lit the by now dusk sky around us. Mum wasn't best pleased when we got back home to Lickey End (no mobile phones in those days!) very late! Well, 'boys' will be 'boys' or should that be 'train buffs'.....!
Exactly the way it was Steve. I was there in the late 50s and into the early 60s. Magic times eh?
Fantastic video thanks, haylecon days gone by the health and safety brigade would have a heart attack these days watching the brakesmen working the brakes as the train is on the move, certainly a good video of a time gone by now and a part of our heritage, from the locomotive staff, the brakesmen and the signallers too
Being a shunter was among the most dangerous jobs in those days.
I'm a Diesel fan, havnt a clue about Steam. But I enjoyed every minute of this, probably because my dad was a Fireman back then, LMS man,, he would have been banked up there many a time. He would have loved to watch this.
The sound would have been awesome. Thankful for what we have, a great insight, to how things were done back then, and now (rarely). Even a Diesel needs a hand,
Thank you for sharing.
👍😎
My uncle Ted Mason worked in Bromsgrove South Box at the time this was filmed.He,his wife and my two cousins lived in one of the 4 railway cottages at Stoke Works Junction,in the V formed by the junction.I stayed with them a couple of years previously when there was a station at the junction.The very long gardens are still there today 70years later.
Wonderful footage and in colour too.
How it used to be done back in the steam days.
Thanks for sharing this little gem with us.🙂👍
Hats off to Dr Rook for this video. In those days it was dead easy to get track permits something Network Rail would do their fruit at today. To be fair trains are faster than then but it's great to see the vibrant thriving railway as it was
Wonderful footage and so evocative of the time...
Excellent unseen footage...thanks for sharing
Ah! The 94's the easy steamers. Worked them many times in the Welsh valley's as bankers and on the passengers.
Very enjoyable thanks for sharing
Thank you Doctor.
thank you, really enjoyed watching the skill of the whole team. I suppose having gained so much experience, the skill becomes second nature. thank you, Patrick m Northamptonshire
An interesting film from the year I was born . Been up & down the lickey incline a few times . A very steep gradient .
I lived opposite Coften park in 60s and travelled by bus to school in Bromsgrove via Barnt Green and Blackwell.. Only cycled a couple of times to Blackwell but it was interesting to see wagon brakes pinned and then sparking when going downhill. Even then I thought who would like living in the white house at the top . Probably railway workers living there but would have to shout to each other. Imagine the noise of the steam locomotives right at the top of the incline.
Noisy yes, but still not as noisy as the blokes working on the 'hammers' at Garringtons, down the bottom of the bank.
Great footage, thanks for sharing
A Double header with a 9F up the derriere must have flown up the Lickey!
my next door neighbour was a steam engine driver he is 96 now. And tells me story's about getting stuck on the Queensbury line in Bradford in dead of winter. Like he says we had plenty of tea and bacon eggs and it was warm lol
just seen the line side breaknen adjusting the breaks on the coal wagons, that seems skillful and dangerous.
Filmed the year before I was born. Up to the end of steam, the Lickey, for my late dad, was the highlight of our annual trip back to Leeds from Weston-Super-Mare on the Devonian. I have vague memories as a small child of waiting in the train for the bankers to get in position.
0:50 Even in the days of steam you got photobombed by a train hurtling down the bank, haha!
The railways in this era were much more viable than the accountants fiddled. With the gas price hikes Mr Monopoly is going to have to switch to rail
Memory’s good days
Great film, thanks for sharing, sham some off the sharpness was lost transferring to video.
It mentions Rutherford and Scaife; on the new estate next to the station both men are remembered not only by the memorials but also they now each have a road named in their honour.
I was workinga lot at one time between Bromsgrove and Blackwell, the signal box is still there, and the point where the incline levels out is now next to a public foot path.
There always was a path on the UP side at the top of the bank, past the front of the cottages. It then went up a steep slope, up the embankment towards the back of the Sanitorium.
That is good the original Birmingham and Gloucester train crew are remembered. Pioneering Railwaymen they were
A wonderful and unrepeatable film. Sadly, Blackwell now has an EIGHT foot-high fence plus 25kV overhead power lines.😢
Nice
My grandad worked on the bankers George dyer as kids we played down on Newton bridge adjacent to sideings if we were lucky got a ride up the in cline You smelt of smoke good days
Hold on, is that (around 12:00) a 4-4-0 and 2-6-0/4-6-0 passengertrain double headed and still banked by a BR standerd 9F? That seems a bit out of carachter by BR?
At 22:27 didn't the Brush locos look like an export loco?
Nah bound for Port Talbot where they still work in 2024
where is the grand old lady Big Bertha ? or had she gone by then but why ?
Big Bertha/ Big Emma was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
Was Big Bertha not here in '57?
Big Bertha was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
Is there any sound for this film?
0:38 - not the longest gradient, nor the steepest gradient on BR though. Longest - possibly the 30 miles from Langwathby to Aisgill summit on the Settle-Carlisle. Steepest definitely the 1 in 14 Hopton incline on the Cropton and High Peak Railway
Crompton and High Peak isn't a main line though, is it?
@@RichardASK no - but the text says "showing the longest (2 1/4 miles) and steepest (1 in 37) gradient on British Railways, not on the main line.
can someone tell me what do they mean by pinning down wagons brakes?
@BR bob oh ok
@BR bob so it stops the train from running away when going downhill
@BR bob i get it now thx for that
Is the 0 6 0 tank enginea showed same class as the thomas??
Forgot the class but i think theyre the same
@@daylightman8459
Ah thank you for correcting me
Nope. The pannier tanks are 94xx class. GWR design but mostly built by BR
Where is Big Bertha ??
Cut into 100s of pieces of scrap at Derby works and sent for melting down!
Big Bertha was withdrawn from service by BR on May 7th, 1956. She was probably scrapped by this time. She got replaced by a 9F (92230) who got her signature headlight for night operations.
@@nielsleenknegt5839 It was actually displayed at the Derby works open day on August 1956 and not cut up into 100s of pieces of small scrap till 6th and 7th April 1957. Then afterwards it was sent for melting down, all except the cylinder block which was saved.
Sorry But it’s NOT all 1957. 58100 was withdrawn in 1956 and moved to Derby.
Ops apologies. The clip was not 58100, but a 4F
It's Definatly after may 1956, Big Emma isn't seen in any of the shots and it would be VERRY coincidental if the BIG banker was in the works getting repairs when this was shot...
@@alanspencer4054 Oh yeah now I see you men her. Also the 2-10-0 are 9F's but i'm sure thats just a typo.